The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-12-25
HARDSHIP IN NORTHERN MAINE.
Men from Sunny Italy Give Place to Finn,
and IrIshmen.

ana krfshncn.
BANGOR, Dec. 24.-1f the hardships and pri-
vations and tho various impositions suffered
by many Of the laborers employed in the con-
struction OF tho Canadian Pacific railway across
Northern Maine could DO fully described. the
narrative would be q good companion to THE
SUNS articles on "The White Slaves OF Gotham
1t vas bad enough, breaking the way for a rail-
road through the rugged. painless wilderness
last summer. although the sun blistered the bark
on the trees, and mosquitoes and black flies
swarmed. but now, when the ground is covered
with snow. and cold gales sweep through the
forest, the lot Of the poor navvies ia infinitely
worse. The gangs Of Italians brought from New
York during the warm weather have nearly all
returned, being unable to stand the cold. A few
gangs remain, but when the present unsea-
sonable weather is succeeded by the genuine
blizaards of January, these, too, will be glad
to get back to Mulberry street. The Italians
conceived during the fall the idea OF making
huts of earth. thinking that they could pass tho
winter in such habitations in comfort. while
living In their tents would be out Of the ques-
ton, and accordingly they burrowed out large
numbers of caves in the hillsides. building up
the front with a wall Of logs. stones, or sods,
tircly OF sods and boughs. These remain as
monuments TO their useless toll. and probably
hnND no ptnsr tenants tnhn pears, DSlnR unit
Tor the hahitRtions OF men.
\ few weeks ago some hundreds OF Germans,
Irishmen, and Firms we're brought to. this city
Der Of Province men, uptho line to that section
q the road building between Greenrille and
N thsm emms Sacf Th and 9t d m das d dfs ms,sr ssf
OF mon never struck. Bangor, One Of them.
George Murray Of Newfoundland. describes
and the manner of living as barbarous. He
says, and his story Is but Il repetition OF those
told by scores OF other mon who have, been
there. that the wages now paid are fifteen
cents an hour. The nen are obliged to live in
shanties INTO which the snow sits. the rain
freedom, They are Obliged to provide their
own bedding, and if they have no blanket of
their own it will cost them s2.5o, to buy a poor
rageous prices are charged the men for every
thing, and they have to submit to tho bleeding
tlement and generally without ready money.
Murray says that he has seen $3.50 charged to
Werth is St IN n B PalF Of thu ml tatisr,y w eIlsr iSs is q sh IT.
\. pnir OF snow pacs. II sort of wool boot. costs
$3.50 at the company's store, and II u man uses
any soap it costs him at the rate of about 80
cents pound for u very cheap article. Each man
has to pay so cents Il month for. washing, and
the same sum for doctors foe. whether he has
any use for Il doctor or not.
The price Of board is s3.5O q week. and the
board is described as .something tit, to give an
more than u sort Of leaden paste OF -four and
water, am! the men say that what the canf
cooks, call ginger, bread makes better mecca
sins than, moose hide, Tho rest Of the bill OF
fare consists principally OF underdone beans
and II sort of tea which the men declare to be
made of bark. From these few facts may be
these Iaborers have on the Canadian Pacific.
and one can lso form. some estimate of how
much money they ought to save. on the basis
of eight hours Il day and tho expenses quoted.
A tierce-looking Italian, who had become
disguised with work on the road last summer
Sclf briefly and picturcsIueiy regarding life on
the road. Somebody said to him: Why. An
tonic, what do you come down for? Nice work
handsome son Of Italy repiiod with IL diabolical